'Gargoyles' Has 'Star Trek' Ties

CHATTER

June 22, 1997

QUESTION: I'm fond of the cartoon Gargoyles (2 p.m. weekdays on WOFL-Channel 35). I recognize some of the voices, and wondered if you could tell me which characters are voiced by Star Trek alumni. D.O., Orlando.

ANSWER: The Fox cartoon about stone creatures that come to life features a host of famous voices, from Ed Asner to Laura San Giacomo. There are several Star Trek: The Next Generation alums: Michael Dorn (Worf) is the voice of gargoyle Coldstone; Jonathan Frakes (Riker) is Xanatos, megalomaniac businessman; Marina Sirtis (Troi) is evil outcast Demona; and Brent Spiner (Data) is michief-making Puck. Several of the Gargoyles leads have guested on Star Trek, including Frank Welker, who growls and grunts as Bronx, the gargoyles' dog, and Salli Richardson, voice of human detective and Gargoyle pal Elisa Maza. Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura on the original Star Trek) is Diane Maza, Elisa's mom. And two captains have provided guest voices: Avery Brooks, who pilots Deep Space Nine as Benjamin Sisko, was the voice of Nokar, and Kate Mulgrew, Voyager's Kathryn Janeway, was Anastasia Renard.

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Q: I'm 22 and used to watch a show starring a puppet that looked like a cross between a bug and turtle and who would often say ''palabra jot.'' Another favorite show was on PBS and had a lot of kids on it who used to sing, ''Come on and zoom, zoom, zoom-a, zoom...'' I was quite young when I watched these shows. Could you tell me what they were called and when they aired? J.C.S., Poinciana.

A: You've stumped me on the first one. If anyone out there has any clues, I invite them to write in. As for the second, Zoom was the half-hour kids' show produced by WGBH-TV in Boston for PBS. The show featured sketches and musical numbers performed by a cast of seven children that periodically changed. Children were chosen for their ability to act naturally, with show business types discouraged from trying out, giving the cast a ''best friend'' feel for its young audience. You weren't born when Zoom first aired in 1972, and were around 4 when it ended production in 1979.

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Q: Someone recently told me that the actor who played Bubba on In The Heat of the Night (Alan Autry) was Gene Autry's son. Is that correct? F.S., Orlando.

A: Not so, pardner. The two Autrys are not father and son.

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Q: Charles Hallahan was in the movie Dante's Peak, but I believe he was also in a weekly crime series on TV. Could you tell me the name of that? R.E.B., Orlando.

A: From 1986 to 1991 Hallahan played Capt. Charlie Devane, who constantly clashed with Det. Sgt. Rick Hunter (Fred Dryer) on Hunter. He also played Bill Davis, a refinery worker, from 1993-94 in Grace Under Fire. And going way back (1978-79) you may remember him as Ernie, who owned the pizza joint where young law student James T. Hart (James Stephens) toiled on The Paper Chase.